Pipe stem and the like



R. F. DARNELL July 2, 1935.

EM AND THE LIKE Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PIPEVSTEM AND THE LIKE Roy F. Darnell, Detroit, Mich., assigner of onehalf to John S. Wilson', Detroit, Mich.

Application September 12, 1932', Serial No. 632,846

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pipe stems and the like and has as its principal object to simplify, render more efficient, and improve generally structures of this type.

The invention has as one of its primary objects to provide, in a pipe stem, cigarette holder or the like, means for preventing 'saliva or other moisture from entering the stem from the open or tip end thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of this character which may be quickly and economically manufactured and easily assembled with the stem.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of this type in which neither the valve` nor its operation thereof will interfere with the normal or natural use or enjoyment of the pipe, cigarette holder or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction yof this character in which the principal operating parts of thevalve structure are encased or enclosed in a housing and protected from Contact With the nicotine laden smoke which passes through the stem.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pipe stem constructed in Ythis manner but which may be readily cleaned by the conventional type of pipe cleaners by readily passing the same longitudinally therethrough.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, es-v Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view throughr a pipe-having a stem constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view through the stem of the pipe taken at right angles to Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar View taken substantiallyon the plane indicated by line 4--4 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the tip end of the stem.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, it will be noted that there is illustrated a pipe comprising a bowl I having an integral tubular stem portion I I projecting therefrom and the usual removable stem I2 secured in any desired or preferred manner to the integral stem section II.

(C1. 1an-12) The integral stem section II is provided with a passage 4I3 which communicates with the bowl of the pipe and in the present illustrative embodiment of the invention this passage I3 is illustrated as terminating in a pair of branch passages I4 which communicate with the passages yet to be referred to in the removal stem sec-v tion I2.

The stem I2 is provided longitudinally and centrallythereof with a pair of opposedsubstantially semi-circular grooves or recesses I arranged in opposed relation and adapted to receive and accommodate a substantially tubular housing IB formed preferably of the same material as the stem section I2. This housing member I6 is introduced into the stem I2 from the end thereof opposite the bit end II before the stem section I2 is .secured to the integral stem section I I. Movement of the housing member I8 toward the tip end is arrested or limited by the engagement. of 'shoulders I8 onthe housingwith shoulders4I9 formed in the grooves I5.

The location of the housing I6 in the stem I2 divides the longitudinalpassage thereof into a pair 'of passages 20 which provide communication between the open bit endl I'I of the stem and the branch passages III heretofore referred to.

Arranged longitudinally Within the housing IG is a rod or stem member 2I which is provided at onel end thereof with a valve member 22 shaped Y to correspond to the opening 23'in the tip end of the stem and adapted to close this opening by engaging an annular valve seat 24 surrounding the opening 23.

Surrounding the rod 2I is a light coil spring 25 which bears on the one end against a shoulder 26 formed within the housing and on the other end against a washer or the like 21. The washer 2l is held on the rod 2I by providing an abutment 28 on the rod, as for instance by flattening the same as illustrated. The housing I6 throughout a portion of its length, as for instance at 29, may be provided With a bore of a diameter such as will slidably'receve the rod 2I whereby this rod is guided in its longitudinal movement. rIhe other end of the housing I6 Yis preferably closedY by means of a movable plug or the like 3D.

As will be observed, the valve member 22 normally closes the -opening 23 in the bit end of the stem I2. However, when the pipe user-draws on the pipe the suctionthus created acts to open the valve 23 against the action of the light spring 25 to thus permit smoke to be drawn out through the stem from the bowl of the pipe. However, whenever the pipe user ceases to draw on the not in any manner whatsoever interfere with the and fragrant smoke.

normal use and enjoyment of the pipe.V Moreover, the tapered or inclined contour of the valve seat 24 and of the engaging portion of the valve insures an adequate seating of the valve under-'al1 normal conditions.

' As will be noted, the rod 2Iy throughout the'` greater portion of its length, together with the springV 25 and the abutment 21, are all enclosed within the housing I6 so as tozbe kept out of contact with the nicotine laden smoke which passes Y through theY stem so that the smoke is, not conf taminated thereby and these parts are kept free fromnicotine deposits which might cause corrosion or rust and interfere with their normal operation. A.

The pipe may be readily cleaned in the usual conventional manner by drawing the valve member 22 outwardlyagainst'the action ofthe springV 25'and rotating `the same a quarter turn so asto position the valve 22 crosswise of the oval-shaped opening 23. This position of the valve 221s illustrated in dotted lines in Fig..5 and, as will be observed, leaves the opening 23 `in thetip ofthe stem open on opposite sides of the valve whereby the conventional type of pipe cleaner maybe inserted into the stemthrough the passages Y2l) and then through the branch passages I4 and the passage I3 tothe bowl of the pipe, if desired. If the stem section I2 is removed from'the pipe, the pipe cleaner may be run completely throughy the stem as willbe obvious.

To those Skilled iny this lart, it Will be immedii ately apparent that the principles` of this inven-V tion may be applied with equal facility and with the same advantageous results to thestem "of acigarette holder or any lsimilar'type of smoking implement, and to. this end the invention conf il templates all types ofsmoking Yimplementsie'mploying stems.` Y

Reservationis made to make such changes as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

y What I claim as my invention is:

1'. 'I'he combination withthe-stem of asmoking'implemenaof a checkgvalve fori controlling the passage through said'stem, and a housing located Within said passage providing means for mounting said valve 'and enclosing the control means therefor to protect the same from Vcontact with the smoke passing through the stem passage. 2. In a lstructure of the class described, a stem y having a smoke passage therethrough, a check valve for controlling said smoke passage,.a housing for mounting said check valve and providing a protective enclosure for the control means therefor, and means for mounting said housin within the passage of said stem.

' 3. Ina smokingimplement, Ya stem provided with a smoke passage therethrough, a check valve located in the bit end for controlling said smokeV passage, a. removable housing located in said passage of said stem and providing mounting means for said valve, and spring means enclosed in said '10 V,means in said-smoke passage for mounting saidy housing,-a valve rod slidably mounted in said housing, a valve carried by said rod and acting to control said passage, and spring Vmeans enclosed in said housing for holding said valve in Vclosed position. i if 5. In a smoking implement, arstem provided with a passage therethrough, a valve seat surrounding said passage at the bit endof said stem, an outwardly opening valveengaging said seat, a

connected to said valve and slidably mounted in said housing member, anda spring surrounding said rod in said housing and engaging astop on the endV of said rod to normally hold said valve in engagement with said valve seat, for the purpose set forth. 1 l Y 6. In a smoking implement, a stem provided with a passage therethrough, a pair of opposed grooves formed in the wall' of said passage, a hous-` ing member tted in said grooves, a `check valve at one end of said stem, a valverodconnected` thereto and extending into said housing, and a spring in said housing engaging said' rod to normally hold saidtvalve .in closed'apositiong'for the purpose set-forth.-` z i i '7. In a smokingV implement, Va stem .provided with a passage therethrough and a valve seatat one end thereof, an Voutwardly opening checkvalve normally engaging said Aseat,za. pair' of opposed grooves formed'inthe wall offsaid passage with a shoulder intermediatethe ends thereof, a hous- Y ing fitted into said .opposed grooves and provided tending into said passage, a housing fixed Within said smoke passage, said housing having means for slidably and rotatably mounting said valve rod, and spring means within said housing normally holding said valvek in engagement With'its seat;

ROY'F.

Vhousing member` locatedin said passage, a Vrod 

